message at the vatican, pope benedict pleaded for peace, and called for an end to the bloodshed in syria, where 5,000 people have been killed in pro-democracy confrontations this year. later, the vatican condemned a christmas bombings in churches in nigeria. charlie dageda has the latest. >> reporter: the bomber struck as worshippers gathered for christmas mass-- families, children in their sunday best. at least 35 people were killed and 50 injured in one bomb blast alone. >> you can see so many families gone. the whole households gone. >> reporter: the emergency crews struggled to cope with the number of victims. st. theresa's was the worst hit. the nigerian authorities reported five bombings, including three churches and a government security building. it might have been even worse. the military spokesman says police caught some attackers with unexploded bombs. boco haram, the al qaeda group, claimed responsibility for the bombings, and local christian residents promise revenge. boco haram killed 61 people in attacks last week. today's bombings will raise the tensions between muslims a